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The Sensible Flutist

The Sensible Flutist: December 2011

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Avoidance and what to do about it


The past couple of weeks, I’ve noticed that I’ve been avoiding several daily items. Catching up on paperwork, practicing any more than bare minimum and running all come to mind. I find myself doing other things (like Christmas shopping...) when I really should be prioritizing and getting work done.

Other than the obvious chore that paperwork is, practicing and exercise are my stability points. No matter what else happens in my life, I know I can always count on music and fitness to keep me sane.

Avoiding the paperwork made me realize why I’ve been avoiding the other two: overwhelming inconsistency. With the best of intentions, my plans have overwhelmed me. So I need to start somewhere to get back on track.

I’ll start today by simply working. Take a half hour to work on paperwork, break my practice down to focus on a short term goal and just get my workout done. I feel like life has gotten in the way a lot lately, but really it’s just been me.

For those looking for ways to be more productive and to minimize your chances of going into avoidance mode, visit David Allen’s site. He’s got lots of great tools available on his site to help you keep things in perspective.

If you need help figuring out how to break down your career goals (or music goals) into manageable chunks, check out Astrid Baumgardner’s site and blog. She is an excellent professional coach who has helped artists figure out their path and the steps they need to take to get there.

Get to work!

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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Skype Flute Lessons


Does your schedule prevent you from driving to a studio once a week for regular flute lessons? Why not take lessons via Skype? Skype lessons are a flexible and convenient option that works well for all ages and levels of students. 

I am offering a FREE 30 minute trial lesson for you to try out Skype lessons with me to see if it suits you. There is no obligation and no strings attached. If you would like to continue lessons after your trial lesson, I offer pre-paid lesson packages of 4 or 8 lessons that are payable via Paypal. You may e-mail me at adelpalazzo (at) gmail.com to schedule your trial lesson.

Prices:

Single lesson
 - $20/half hour, $40/hour

4 Lesson Packs:
Package of 4 half hour lessons - $80
Package of 4 hourly lessons - $160

8 Lesson Packs:
Package of 8 half hour lessons - $160
Package of 8 hourly lessons - $320

If the idea of Skype Lessons has you scratching your head, here are answers to some questions you may have:

Why study with me when there are so many other flute teachers offering virtual lessons?

I am a professional teaching artist with experience teaching all ages and levels. As a teaching artist, I perform regularly and take auditions and as a result, I’m able to coach my students through various performance situations and performance anxiety issues.
 

Another exciting development to happen this year is that I am now an
 Andover Educator trainee studying towards becoming licensed to teach “What Every Musician Needs to Know about the Body.” The benefit to you in private lessons is that I can share my Body Mapping knowledge with you to improve your flute playing. 

Taking a sensible and whole body approach to flute playing (hence the name of this blog), I believe that the body is an extension of our instrument and we must move well in order to maximize our musical potential. Every student that studies with me is exposed to comprehensive and customized flute study with elements of Body Mapping and performance coaching included.

Who is The Sensible Flutist?

You can find information about me at my
 website and you can read more articles here on my blog to gain further insight into who I am. Here is a short bio:

Alexis Del Palazzo is an Andover Educator trainee, active performer and devoted teacher residing in the Central Pennsylvania region. She has performed widely across the United States including Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas and New York.

Alexis teaches many private flute students and has taught at Corning Community College. As a private studio teacher, Alexis’s students have consistently received superior ratings at solo festivals and have won competitions. Her passion for teaching and outreach has led to her work being published in Flute Talk magazine. She has presented workshops on teaching and practicing with extended techniques for the Rochester Flute Association and the Central Pennsylvania Flute Fest. She will be presenting “Holistic Practice: Practicing for the Whole Musician” for the National Flute Association’s Annual Convention in August 2012 in Las Vegas.

She holds a Bachelor’s of Music degree in flute performance with special distinction from the University of Oklahoma-Norman where she studied with Dr. Valerie Watts. Other teachers include Christina Jennings, Helen Blackburn, Patricia George, and Christine Moulton. She has performed in masterclasses for Carol Wincenc, George Pope, Jill Felber, Alexa Still, Keith Underwood and Liisa Ruoho.
 


Why Skype lessons?

You don’t have to travel and they’re a great option for those who live in an area where there is no local teacher. Rather than try to accommodate lessons during my studio hours, Skype lessons are a flexible option since I am able to teach lessons at a mutually agreeable time.

Because I live in central Pennsylvania, you can take advantage of the cheaper lesson rate I am able to charge here versus a larger city. This increases your savings if you live in a more expensive urban area.

If you have any additional questions, please e-mail me. I look forward to working with you!

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Twitter inspired gifts for the flutist in your life

A twitter friend of mine posted a couple of weeks ago that she was decorating her tree with flute angel ornaments and they were all gifted to her in some way. I responded that perhaps as flutists, we block out seeing anything remotely flute related on the shelves except when we’re bombarded with all sorts of goodies at flute fairs.

So if you have a flutist in your life that can’t bear the thought of receiving another ornament (as beautiful as they are), here are a few twitter inspired ideas for you:


Meerenai Shim’s Sometimes the City is Silent – this debut CD would make a great gift for all levels of flutists. I got the opportunity to see Meerenai perform at the Andover Educators’ Biennial Conference last June and her energy on stage is infectious. She preserves that same energy on her recording. Follow Meerenai on twitter as she continues to premiere new works!





Fluterscooter Flute Case Cover – I bought one of the new canvas bags earlier this year, and I love it. Stylish and roomy, this bag does everything I need it to. For flashier types, you'll love the patent leather and silver options while low key flutists will find the canvas bags attractive. Fluterscooter is on twitter, too!




Consider a gift certificate from Flute Pro Shop. Owner Joan Sparks is regularly seen at flute events in the Mid-Atlantic region with loads of flutes, music and accessories. My current favorite thing on her site is the Flute Resting Pad, a velvety soft cushion for you to place your flute when not in use. Follow Flute Pro Shop on twitter!




Body Mapping for Flutists: What Every Flute Player Needs to Know about the Body – this guide by Andover Educator Lea Pearson is a must have in every flute teacher or flute student’s library. If you have questions about balance, hand position, or breathing, this is the resource for you!

4) Fluteworld gift certificate – need I say more? Follow the store here.

Happy holidays from The Sensible Flutist!

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